Boutique buys, sells, trades clothes
Clothes for teens and young adults is the specialty of Rags Unique Boutique that opened last weekend at 503 Fourth St. in Coeur d’Alene. The bright, small shop is just north of Franklin’s Hoagies in the space formerly occupied by The Brat Boutique, which has moved north on Fourth.
The store carries a trendy inventory of brand-name girls’ and women’s clothes, shoes and some jewelry.
“We buy, sell and trade with very reasonable prices,” said owner Teresa Adams, who operates the store with her daughter Michaela (pronounced Mikayla). Originally from California, they came to North Idaho from Boise in 1996. It is their first store.
Hours are noon to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Phone (208) 659-1356.
Special items, service at new store
Four rooms full of specially selected gift items and a shopping service to help customers find other special items are offered at Shoppes of Harmony. The new store is in the former Harmony House Hotel at 205 Indiana Ave., Coeur d’Alene.
Sisters Melanie Crippen and Deborah Smith have converted the first floor of the 1913-vintage rooming house (which also had been a brothel) into a store. The different rooms all have their own emphasis. The primary place is the International Room, which has hundreds of porcelain and vinyl dolls from around the world.
Other rooms have imported crystal ornaments, Delft and Bolestawiec pottery, candles, ceramic trinket boxes, music boxes, items for pets and wild birds and gift baskets. The kitchen will become a gourmet food room, and an outdoor patio will be added for socializing and wine-tasting.
Originally from the Miami area, the women joined relatives in North Idaho in the past two years. They also offer a special shopping service, helping clients find “the perfect gift,” Melanie said.
Spring hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays. Phone (208) 769-3100.
North midtown identity changes
Nearly three blocks along Third and Fourth streets in midtown Coeur d’Alene is drastically changing its look with the expansion of Dave Smith’s Frontier Sales. The used car and service arms of the gigantic Kellogg-based dealership have expanded onto several properties and plan to add more.
From the attractive park triangle where Third and Fourth streets split south of Interstate 90 to Locust Avenue, the business has brightened the area with much more than a rainbow of used cars.
“Look at that!” exclaimed Steve Schultz, who has the neighboring Bicycle Sales & Service store at Fourth and Locust. Pointing out the giant former Ponderosa lot and dealership building across the street, Schultz said: “There’s great landscaping, lighting and giant flags. It’s done wonders for this street.”
Still to come are 10,500 red geraniums, added Joe Orsi, general manager. The service center and parts store in the Ponderosa lot will open May 1 and add 10 employees, bringing the CdA total to about 30. The business will offer full service and detailing for all makes and models of cars and trucks. The expanding used car sales will also fill the parking area. Orsi stressed that the company sells only vehicles it has taken in on trades; none come from the auction yards.
Also with a new display lot on Third, south of the original Frontier property, the company has purchased the Sherwin Williams Paint building (although the store has an existing lease) and the old house north of the bike shop on Fourth.
Using Internet advertising and its “no-hassle” motto, Dave Smith’s is the largest Dodge dealer in the world. It also advertises on radio throughout the Northwest and even in the flashy airline magazines.
Hours for the new service center will be 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays. Car sales will also be on Sundays. Phone (208) 667-6053. The Web site is www.dsfls.com.
Here’s a couple of tidbits
“The former Breakfast Nook on Sherman Avenue has been razed, and the Social Security building will be gone soon to make room for the 18-story Parkside Condominium and the equipment needed to build it. The Breakfast Nook will have a new location on North Fourth Street, and it also has a cafe in Post Falls. Social Security will move to the Avista building at Seventh and Wallace on Monday.
“Sunday is the final day for the Mikasa store at the west end of the Post Falls Outlet Mall. Eight employees now offering a major clearance sale will be looking for work, according to a spokeswoman. Fifteen stores remain of the original 50 at the mall, which opened in 1992.